In the Darkest of Times, Remember To Turn On The Light
By Tina Wargo
The national events of this weekend make the worlds of many of us seem much darker, but there are still ways to combat darkness.
Today is so hard for so many of us. Not only do the Obamas have to leave the White House after 8 wonderful years in which they made us proud to be Americans, but a man who stands for the opposite of every decent American ideal is being inaugurated in his place. To reject him isn’t the strategy of a sore loser, nor a political move. It’s a survival technique.
Donald Trump and his dangerous cabinet members aren’t simply unappealing or in opposition to the recently trending liberal ideals most of us share; they pose a direct threat to our well-being, our safety, our country’s viability, and for some of us, our lives. To live in America now is to be living through a largely unprecedented period of turmoil, uncertainty, and straight-up fear. But despite how we may feel in the coming days and likely months, it’s not all hopeless yet.
Even this weekend, the very day after the largely-boycotted and likely under-attended inauguration will come an incredible show of strength and ferocity in the form of the Women’s March.
As I write this, many of our Democratic allies in higher government are fighting for us and against the new administration. Countless organizations and individuals around the country are making progress despite the seeming hopelessness of our future, and we still have the choice to join the fight for good, but we have to remember – as Albus Dumbledore taught us- to turn on the light. Below are just a few ways in which we can move forward, search for the good, and make some steps, if just tiny ones, toward flipping the switch.
Look for the heroes
Just in the past few weeks alone, it’s been undoubtedly confirmed that no matter what disadvantage the Democratic Party may currently have, our leaders refuse to take any of the new administration’s decisions lying down. From the steadfast and resounding opposition to the repeal of Obamacare, to the concrete refusal to accept most of Trump’s cabinet nominations, to the inspiring and necessary speeches given to reassure us, leaders on the left are going harder than ever.
Cory Booker, Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, both Obamas, Joe Biden, and still, Hillary Clinton are just a few of the big names who continue to represent us and fight for us, loudly and proudly. It’s so easy to take in what we’re hearing about the harmful bills likely to be passed (or the progressive bills likely to cause harm in being repealed) but it’s more progressive to seek out those who oppose the negative and continue to buoy the democratic values of this country.
Over the next four years, it’s imperative we not only look for these people, but that we support them, we reach out to them so that they may fight on our behalf, and that we keep the faith that the good guys can, and do, still exist.
Focus on productive news
Social media is a full-on nightmare most of the time, but during this election cycle and all that followed? It’s become nearly impossible to navigate. Between family members and friends who militantly spout hateful rhetoric or refuse to empathize with or listen to what you have to say, the dangerous trend of “fake news,” and the maybe even more dangerous constant onslaught of legitimate news, going online these days is a recipe for anxiety, hopelessness, and overwhelming dread. Unless you try really, really hard to do it right.
It seems there’s a confounding trend that’s apparent in most every media-consuming human wherein we tend to only click on articles and take in news we are already aware of. This, you can deduce, sort of defeats the purpose of the concept of “news,” and also serves only to exacerbate anxieties, further deepen one’s already-instated belief systems, or keep one ignorant to other perspectives. While it’s tempting and sometimes even comforting to only indulge in news stories that jibe with our political standing and serve to quell our fears (or at least not incite new ones), it’s not productive.
This is not to say that we should all be seeking out depressing, horrifying, or even differently biased news sources. It’s to say that in order to gain any new perspective or to understand the state of the nation (or the world) in matters of fact and not political leanings, we’ve got to be smarter about the kind of news we’re taking in. We need to be informed, not scared. We need to be aware, not swayed. We need to get used to taking national events and processing them in a way that feels like we can both understand the implications and consequences and work to change those, if we must. And let’s face it- we must.
Related Story: What’s Next for the Obamas?
Do something
This is the one you hear constantly, and it can feel like it’s coming at you in a semi-judgmental, intimidating way from media, friends, family, celebs….in short, everywhere. And it’s said so often because it’s so simple and it’s so true. If you’re feeling hopeless, or powerless, or worthless, or any less than you should, just do something. Do anything. Inform yourself. Write something. Make art. Donate. Call a representative. Write a letter to an elected official. Volunteer. Talk. Listen.
It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by all there is yet to do, but it’s just as easy, once you drown out the guilt and the shame and the fear, to do just one thing. Maybe that one thing will lead to more things. Maybe it’ll lead to a revolution. Or maybe not. It might just add one more voice to the millions, it might be just another $50 toward the fight for justice. But it’s a start, and it’ll more likely than not be the spark that starts the flame that you’d been looking to ignite all along.
We’re heading into hard times. Many of us feel constantly anxious, unbearably helpless, and utterly terrified. But despite the measures being taken to ensure we remain in fear, nothing can take away our ability to resist, to fight, and to insist upon hope. At times, it may be all we have. But, if we turn our uncertainty into progress, if we use our fear as an impetus for change, it also may be all we need. As Hillary Clinton told us, “This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” It’s worth it, it’s possible, and it’s necessary. Turn on the light.